Drying machine for tubular fabrics and the like



March-22, 1960 E. H. JOHNSON DRYING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1956 INVENTOR.

m m M M s H W M n .m f W 0 E h Y B March 22, 1960 E. H. JOHNSON DRYING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "DRYING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR FABRICS AND THE LIKE Edwin H. Johnson, Englewood, N.J., assignor to Fitch Textile Company, Inc., Coliege Point, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 1, 1956, Serial No.588,705 19 Claims. (Cl.26-56) This invention relates to drying apparatus. More'particularly, it relates to drying apparatus for tubular knitted fabrics and the like. Heretofore, in the most common machines for drying long lengths of tubular manual labor in removing the fabric. 'The time and labor ofassemblingand disassembling the machine and of manually removing the fabric were wasted. It needlessly increased the cost of the drying operation; and it slowed down operations since the machine could not be used for drying while the fabric was being placed upon it. Moreover, such procedure was not continuous and,

hence, interfered with the continous flow of materials-in the plant utilizing such apparatus. Prior to the present invention and my prior developments, a simple, continous drying machine for tubular fabric was unknown in-the art. a

It is an object of the present invention to providean improved and simplified apparatus which is adapted to continuously dry tubular fabric to a desired width ata .more rapid .rate and using less power per unit length than heretofore.

Another object is to'provide a machine of the foregoing .type in which themain part of 1 the drying takes place near the discharge end and whose speed may be changed to accommodate and accomplish changes in dry- .ing effect.

Another object is to provide acontinuously operating drying apparatus for tubular fabrics in which the heat is applied upon the outside of thetubing asa' stream-of air moving in the same direction as the fabric and in such a way as to penetrate and to quickly dry the cloth..

.Another object is to provide apparatus for continuously drying tubular fabric which will involve minimum expense in its fabrication, is light in'weight andmay be made from readily available material without the need for complicated or involved construction technique.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the foregoing type which will'be adaptable to dry tubular, fabric of different sizes while yet possessing all ofthe foregoing advantages and achieving the aforementioned objects.

Another object is to provide means to counteract the.

A -tendency of air to blow back out the cloth entrance to the drying tube and'to substantially preventsuch blowing back.

Another object is to provide means to adapt the machine to drying light fabrics andsynthetic .lightfabrics 2,929,127 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 the housing.

Fig. 4 is a detail end view of the main discspreader.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section view of a form of the invention embodying different means to prevent back flow of air, from that shown in Figs. '1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical"longitudinal section view similar to Fig. 5, but'adding an extension to the'cioth inlet pipe for lighter, thinner and/or synthetic fabrics.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a housing consisting of a large cylindrical entrance tube or pre-drying duct 10 arranged horizontally and open at one end for entrance of the cloth. At the other end, the tube 10.joints ahousing for a feeder mechanismand spreader, the housing being most conveniently made of sheetmetal wherein the main drying takes place while the cloth is spread to the desired maximum width. The housing has straight parallel vertical sides 12, 12, parallel to 'the axis of tube-10.

As viewed in elevation (Fig. 1-) the end'of the housing joining the tube 10 comprises an enlarged head portion 12 which is joined-to an exit duct portion 14 of the same Width, but of less height, by a converging neckportion 16. The end wall 18 of the head portion, arranged substantially vertically, closes'the end of the housing to which the tube 10 joins, except for an aperture of substantiallythe diameter-of the tube 10 through which the fabric may enter the head portion 12.

The length of tubular fabric coming from a hamper 29, or-elsewhere, passes over-a horizontal auxiliaryextrance roller 21 arranged adjacent the entrance end of the tube 10. An annular centrally apertured plate- 11 partially closes the entrance end'of the tube. Extending inwardly from the open center of the plate llis a converging or conical throat 22 which is open at its reduced inner end to permit the fabric to enter the tube 10 a a point spaced from the end plate 11.

Upon entering the tube 10, the cloth is opened up and passed over a circular disc spreader member 24 mounted upon a stationary axial supporting rod 26 which is coaxial with the tube 10. If desired, a series of disc spreaders '24 may be mounted on and spaced along the axial supporting rod 26 to insure that the cloth shall be maintained open during its passage through the entrance tube. The disc spreaders 24 are preferably of considerably less diameter than the cloth tube.

Upon entering the head 12 of the housing, the cloth is passed over and a large disc spreader 28 mounted upon the axial supporting rod 26. This disc spreader is preferably approximately'equal to the desired-final diameter of. the clothiwhich is being processed. Preferably the disc 28 will be removable so that discs of different sizes can be mounted upon the, supporting rod 26 to accommodate cloth tubing of different sizes.

Preferably the .disc 28 will haveas'eries of small holes arranged in the circumference of a circlenear .the'pe riphery of the disc, at aboutfrom one to several inches in from-the periphery of the spreader disc. These holes permit air to .passthrough the cloth as themoving air and to drag too heavily over the surface of the spreader.

The holes may be of approximately /2". diameter; and there may be approximately 30 holes in a 30 diameter spreader or 15 holes in a 15" diameter spreader. It will be understood, however, that the numbers and diameters given are exemplative and are not intended as critical limitations.

For the purpose of moving the cloth mechanically and automatically through the drying machine after it has once been started, feeding mechanism is provided within the housing. The cloth feeding mechanism may be conveniently supported upon the framework consisting of V-legs 36, 36' connected transversely by a horizontal supporting member or plate 37 on which the head portion 12 of the housing is supported. The feeding mechanism may comprise a pair of spaced rotating grooved rollers 30, 30' mounted on spaced vertical shafts 31, 31' which are supported in bearings carried by two spaced movable carriages 32, 32'. The carriages are mounted on and are movable horizontally along a horizontal shaft 35 perpendicular to the supporting rod 26. The vertical shafts 31, 31' are each driven by a worm gear 33 mounted upon the lower end thereof and each meshing with a worm wheel 34 mounted upon the shaft 35 and turning there- ,with within the carriages 32, 32, espectively. In order .to drive the shaft 35, a gear or pulley 38 is mounted upon an end which extends beyond the frame leg 36.

In order that the worms 34, may slide along the shaft 35, a keyway is provided longitudinally in the periphery of the shaft into which fits a permanent key or spline that is slidable in the keyway, one being affixed to each worm 34.

In order to move the carriages 32, 32 and all of the parts carried thereby longitudinally along the shaft 35 toward and away from eachother, a horizontal adjustment shaft 40, parallel to shaft 35, is journaled in bearings carried by the legs 36, 36' of the supporting frame. One end of this adjustment shaft 40 is extended outside the frame and has mounted thereon a hand wheel 42 by which the shaft 40 may be turned. From the middle of the shaft toward each end, the shaft is screw-threaded in opposite directions. Engaging with the shaft at spaced points along it are nuts which are affixed to the carriages 32, 32. The nuts engaging with the screw threads cause the carriages 32, 32' to move toward or away from each other as the hand wheel 42 is turned to rotate the adjustment shaft 40.

In order to maintain the tubular fabric in engagement with the grooved rollers 30, 30, an adjustable spreader assembly is mounted between them. This assembly may comprise a pair of coaxial oppositely extending horizontal arms 50, 51 which are slidable in a cross fitting inserted in the axial supporting shaft 26. A series of small holes are drilled at intervals of approximately one inch in each of the arms 50, 51. A vertical pin 510 may pass through an. aperture in the fitting and into the registering holes of the arms 50, 51 to maintain the arms in the desired position of adjustment.

On the outer end of the arms t), 51 are mounted identical friction roller fittings. Each fitting comprises a pair of spaced horizontal plates 52, 53 and 52', 53' supported in any suitable fashion as by a collar and spacing block on the end of each of the arms 50, 51. Between these plates 52, 52 and 53, 53' are mounted a pair of spaced rollers 54, 54' and 55, 55' rotating horizontally on vertical axle pins extending between and supported by the plates 52, 52' and 53, 53'. The peripheries of. the rollers 54, 54' and-55, '55 are preferably outwardly curved to fit within and cooperate with the groove of the rollers 30, 30'.

It may thus be seen that by adjusting the arms 50 and 51 so that the rollers 54, 54' and 55, 55' occupy a proper position for extending the cloth to the desired distance and inserting the spreader arms within the fabric that, thereafter, the spacing of the driving rollers 30, 30 may be adjusted by turning the hand wheel 42 to place them in proper relation to the spreader device. Because the pairs of rollers 54, 55 and 54, 55' are spaced, they form, together with the plates 52, 53 and 52, 53 and the arms 50, 51, yokes partially surrounding the rollers 30, 30' and touching each of them at two angularly spaced points. Preferably the rollers 30, 3.0 are rubber so that they will grip the cloth and carry the cloth along. The rollers 54, 55 and 54' 55' will roll idly and serve only to hold the cloth against the rollers 30 and 30'.

The location of the cloth feeding means near the exit end of the drier is important to prevent twisting of the cloth. As the cloth dries, it tends to shrink and twist. By placing the spreader and feeder mechanism at the place shown, the cloth is kept spread and stretched to the desired width until dry. p

At the time the cloth leaves the feeding rollers 30, 30, it is spread flat. In order to maintain it in spread and flattened condition, a pair of substantially parallel guide arms 62 and 64 are extended from a transverse arm 68 on the end of the axial supporting rod 26. The guide arms 62 and 64 extend toward the head of the housing and away from the transverse rod 68. A semi-circular or arcuate strut 66 may extend between opposite ends of the transverse rod 68 and join the axial supporting rod 26 at the midpoint of the semi-circle to provide stiffness.

In order to draw off the spread cloth from the end of the spreading device, a pair of parallel horizontal rolls 70 and 72 are provided, one above the other, with their peripheries meeting in the plane of the transverse arm 68 of the spreader. The lower roll 70 is supported in bearings in a standard or frame 74 at opposite ends and .is caused to rotate by a sprocket 76 mounted on an extending end of the shaft of roll 70. A chain 77 passes over the sprocket and engages with the smaller sprocket on a horizontal drive shaft 80 suitably mounted beneath the machine and driven by a motor 82 in conventional manner. The upper take-off roll 72 may have its pressure upon the roll 70 regulated by any suitable means such as a block 75 sliding in the end frame of the support 74 in a vertical guideway. A spring 75s may press upon the sliding block 75' and have its tension adjusted by an adjustment handle 7511.

The cloth issuing from the duct 14 after passing off the transverse member 68 of the spreader passes between the rolls 70, 72 and is wound upwardly around the roll 72 and between it and a drum carried upon a horizontal collecting roll located above roll 72. The cloth is started around the drum which is removably mounted upon the roll. As the drum becomes full, the roll rides automatically in guideways in a conventional fashion until the full piece or pieces of cloth have been dred and wound around the drum. At that time, the shaft can be removed and the full drum taken off it.

The drawing or pulling effect of the take-off rolls 70, 72 tends'to maintain the transverse bar 68 of the spreader at the entrance to the nip of the rolls; and hence, tends to keep the spreader at the proper elevation.

It is necessary that the feed of the cloth be slightly faster than the take-off becausethe cloth is stretched in the process of drying and flattening.

The cloth is dried as it passes through the appara tus by the passage of a stream of rapidly moving hot dry air along the tube 10 and through the spreader and feeding housing. For the purpose of entrance and exit of the hot dry air, thereis provided adjacent the entrance end of the tube 10, beneath the conical throat by a conventional heater.

22, an entrance pipe 90. for hot air. The .hot air is forced by a conventional blower through the entrance 90 at high speed, havingpreviously been heated The speed, volume and temperature of the air enable penetration through the cloth and quick, effective drying action. The temperature, volume and velocity of the air may be varied. Clearly, cloth that is wider or wetterwill need more intensive treatment than narrower and drier cloth. As the speed of the cloth is increased, the temperature of the air or the number of cubic feet perminute may have to be increased, or both, in order to maintain the same degree of dryness.

In order to provide a back pressure and prevent the air fromblowing back out through the entrance end of tube 10, a small pipe 96, somewhat smaller in diameter than entrance pipe 90, is provided entering the throat 22 and connected to a source of compressed air, such as the blower for the air supply to pipe 90. The air issuing from the end of the pipe 96 provides a wall of high pressure air adjacent the exit of the throat 22 and prevents the hot dry air of the tube from leaving the entrance end of the tube.

The movement of the airdown the tube 10 causes the cloth to move or flap laterally while being drawn longitudinally. This movement of the cloth assists in the drying effect of the air on the cloth. The cloth is kept from collapsing by the spreader or spreaders 24 along the axial supporting rod 26.

The cloth is most widely spread in a circular fashion over the spreader 28 substantially at the point where the hot air leaves the tube 10 and enters the spreader and feeder mechanism housing. The force of the air flow presses the cloth against the face of the spreader 28 so that the continuing flow impinges upon the flattened cloth and penetrates it. The drag of the rollers 30, 30' moves the cloth radially at that point.

In order to retard and direct the flow of air within the exit duct 14, a series of vertical spaced baffles 92 are provided, three being shown, independing relation secured to the inner surface of the upper wall of the duct 14. These baflies direct the flow of air down- Wardly through the cloth. Preferably these baffles 92 are of gradually increasing depth from top to bottom, that is to say, the top baflle is of less depth (i.e., inch) than the next adjacent (one inch) and so on to the bottom baflie of the series.

Similarly, to direct the flow of air against the cloth between the disc spreader 28 and horizontal spreader 50-55, oppositely inclined baffles 93, 93' which are adjustable are directed toward the cloth from both the top and bottom inner surfaces of the housing 12 and neck 16.

Also, if desired, a pair of vertical flanges 14' extending horizontally across the exit end of the exit duct 14 may be provided to limit the amount of air which may pass out through that end. These flanges 14' will terminate in spaced relation so as to leave a slot through which the cloth and spreader may pass. The hot moisture laden air is delivered from the end of the exitduct 14 adjacent the transverse spreader bar 68 through a pipe or exit duct 94. The size of this duct will be regulated to accommodate the amount of air to be discharged. If desirable, a damper may be provided in the discharge pipe to control the rate of discharge.

'When the exit iduct 14 is of sheet metal, it is, useful to provide a window in'the top surfaces of duct 14 s that the passage of the cloth may be viewed.

' The apparatus above described provides for preliminary drying of the loose cloth while passing through the preliminary drying duct 10. There, a small portion of the moisture is removed. The major portion of the drying takes place after the cloth leaves the tube 10. This major drying is accomplished as the blast of air from tube 10 presses the fabric flat against the the cloth is continuously removed and dried to thedesired width. Moreover, the main drying is done while the cloth is stretched, at which time the drying can more easily and more effectively-be accomplished. The speed of the machine can be adjusted sothat the cloth issuing will have the proper degree of dryness, it being obvious that all cloth passing through does notcontain exactly the same amount of moisture on entering.

The machine is flexible in its use. -When it is desired to increase the width of the clothduring' its treatment in the machine, the entering cloth is overfed, since stretching the cloth laterally will shorten it-length- Wise. Conversely, when it is desired to decrease the width of the cloth, the entering .cloth will be underfed; and the drying will then take place undertension. In either case, the drying is at the desired width.

With apparatus embodying the principles of my invention as above described, I have found that the capacity of the machine is increased fourfold or more over the old batch method while at the same time adding the advantage of continuous operation. The saving in time, manpower and mechanical power is considerable. The apparatus also avoids the possibility of pockets of air which would hinder the air flow and the-drying. The air must continuously flow and be continuously replaced by dry air.

In Fig. 5 is shown another form of the invention for preventing the hot air from blowing back out of the cloth entrance of the tube. The tube 110 and hot air entrance 190 are similar to the tube 10 and hot air entrance of the previous form but the tube is closed at its end. Through that end wall or closure extends a cloth entrance tube 122 similar to the tube 22 in the previous form. The cloth is introduced into the machine through this tube 122. On the inner end of the entrance tube 122 is tied or secured by a clamp, or in any suitable fashion, a short sleeve 1228 of canvas or any other suitable flexible cloth or other material which is substantially impervious to air flow therethrough and will withstand hot air and moisture for prolonged periods.

Due to the flexibility of the sleeve 1228 the pressure of the air within the tube presses the sleeve against the cloth C adjacent the inner end of the entrance tube 122, while permitting the cloth C to move continuously through the tube and machine. As the air pressure presses the sleeve against the cloth, the continuous movement of the cloth through the machine tends to pull the sleeve along and to straighten it. The sleeve 122$, therefore, provides a flexible seal between the entrance tube 122 and the cloth C which prevents, the airfrom blowing back out through the entrance tube 122. The length of the sleeve may vary. Moreover, sleeves of different diameters and shapes could be substituted if different size entrance, tubes 122 and different size cloths had to be accommodated. Since the cloth C is collapsed the opened up size of the, sleeve122S need not be equal to the size that the cloth would have when opened up;

. but the length of the sleeve preferably is two to five or more times. the diameter. of the tube 122, approximately.

In actual use, the backflow. of air. is practically eliminated by the use of the sleeve, avoidingcon'siderable loss of hot air. This results in a saving inheat and power which would otherwise be lost as air blows out at the entrance end. It also results in more comfortable conditions for the operating personnel.

In order to have access to the inner end of-the entrance tube and the sleeve 1228, a door or removable closure cotton or wool fabrics.

7 110D may be provided in the side of the tube 110 adjacent the inner end of the tube 122.

It is sometimes desirable toprocess thin fabrics or synthetic fabrics which contain a very small amount of Q and take-off means to draw the fabric out of the end of the duct.

3. A drying machine as claimed in claim 2 having means to create a wall of air at high pressure adjacent moisture as compared to heavier fabrics such as knitted, 5 said throat to prevent air from within said duct from The thin fabrics or fabrics containing less moisture do not need to be subjected to as much hot air and drying time as the heavier wetter fabrics.

In order to adapt a machine to the drying of the thinblowing back through said throat.

4. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a duct open at one end for continuous entrance of tubular fabric, air-entrance means adjacent ner drier fabrics, an extension 222 may be provided as said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly illustrated in Fig. 6 telescoping onto the end of the tube 122 extending coaxially inwardly of the main drying tube 110. This extension tube 222 may be supported at its inner end by a plurality of feet 22.3 extending radially moving air to said entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, an enlarged housing portion along said duct, spreading means within said from the inner end of the extension and engaging the enlarged housing portion and extending in a plane subinner periphery of the main tube 110. These feet may 222 and 122, respectively. The extension will preferably terminate near a spreader 124 similar to the spreader 24 hereinbefore described on the end of the supporting rod 26. The supporting rod 26 will preferably be considerably shorter when the extension tube is used and will, therefore, be much nearer the main spreader 28.

The invention is thus adaptable to the drying of thinner and drier fabrics very readily Without sacrificing any of the advantages which are achieved by the use of the sleeve in preventing blowing back of the air from the entrance tube.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 522,518, filed July 18, 1955, now abandoned.

Many modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific forms illustrated and described.

What is claimed is: I

l. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric stantially perpendicular to the path of said fabric through the duct and against which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, feeding means engaging the fabric after it passes said spreading-means to draw the fabric con- 20 tinuously into and through the duct, and take-off means to draw the fabric out of the end of'the duct, and baffle means depending from the inside of one surface of the enlarged housing portion toward the fabric path, for limited retardation of the air flow therein.

5. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a duct open at one end for continuous entrance of tubular fabric, air-entrance means adjacent said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said entrance means, supporting means within the 30 fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, an enlarged housing portion along said duct, spreading means within said enlarged housing portion and extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of said fabric through the 5 duct and against which the fabric is pressed by the movspread of said fabric.

6. A machinefor continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a that open at one end for continuous entrance of tubular fabric, air-entrance means adjacent said comprising a duct open'at one end for continuous en-'' end 0f Said u means pp y hot y rapidly Q trance of the tubular fabric, air-entrance means at said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent r .ing air to said entrance means, supporting means within portion along' said duct, spreadingfmeans within said encollapse of the fabric within the ducuspreading means largefi'hm-lsing'pofiion and attending in 3 Plane extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of said fabric through the duct and against which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, feeding means engaging the fabric after it passes said spreading means stantiallyperpendicular to the path of said fabric through the duct and against which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, feeding means engaging the-fabiic after it -'passes said spreading means to draw thefabric continuto draw the fabric without interruption into and through Ously mm 3115 ihrugh the duct, and i means to the duct, and take-off means to draw the fabric out of the opposite end of the duct, said feeding means being located relative to said take-off means so that both act on the fabric when nearly dry to avoid "twisting of'the fabric. 1

2. A machine for continuously drying tubular fabric comprising a duct partially closed at its entrance end, a throat extending inwardly from said partially closed end through which the fabric is fed into the duct, air-entrance means between theinner end ofsaid throat and said par-- tially closed end, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, spreading means extending ina planesubstantially perpendicular to the path of said fabric through the duct and against the surface of which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, feeding meansengaging the fabric after it passes said ,65 fabric," comprising aduct having an exit opening at one end and an. entrance opening at the other through which the fabric is continuously introduced and passed, means providing a continuous flow of hot dry air in the direction of fabric movement meansgto open up the fabric on entering the duct, means to maintain the fabric at least partly openedup, means intermediate the length of the duct to open up the fabric fullypmeans between i the exit of the duct and said full-opening means to spread the fabric in flattened condition at full Width andsimulspreading means to draw the fabric through'theduct, t'aneou sly to feed the fabric into and through the duct.

A 9. A drying machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flat-spreading and feeding means comprises driving rollers outside the tubular fabric and spreading means within the fabric having idling rollers engaging said driving rollers through the fabric while the latter moves.

10. A drying machine as claimed in claim 1 having means adjacent the air-entrance end of said duct permitting entrance of the fabric in collapsed condition but preventing air from Within said duct from blowing back out said open end of the duct.

11. A drying machine as claimed in claim 2 having means adjacent said throat permitting entrance of the fabric in collapsed condition but preventing air from blowing back out said throat.

12. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a duct open continuously at one end for entrance of the tubular fabric, air-entrance means at said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, and means adjacent the air-entrance end of the duct preventing air from within said duct from blowing back out said open end of the duct.

13. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a duct open at one end for entrance of the tubular fabric, air-entrance means at said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means Within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, and a flexible closure through which the collapsed fabric enters the duct, said closure being pressed against the entering fabric by the air pressure within the duct preventing blowing back of air out the entrance end of the duct.

14. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a duct open at one end for entrance of the tubular fabric, air-entrance means at said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, and a flexible sleeve secured adjacent said air-entrance end of the duct-through which sleeve the fabric enters the duct, said sleeve being pressed against the entering fabric by air pressure in the duct preventing blowing back of air out the entrance end of the duct.

15. A machine for continuously drying tubular fabric comprising a duct partially closed at its entrance end, a throat extending inwardly from said partially closed end through which the fabric is fed into the duct, airentrance means between the inner end of said throat and said partially closed end, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said air-entrance means, supporting means within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, spreading means extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the path of said fabric through the duct and against the surface'of which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, feeding means engaging the fabric after it passes said spreading means to draw the fabric through the duct, and means attachable to said throat extending it toward said spreading means reducing the exposure of the moving fabric to drying.

16. A drying machine as claimed in claim 15 having a flexible sleeve secured to said throat-extension means providing access from the throat to the duct and preventing blow back of air through the throat.

17. A drying machine as claimed in claim 15 having means adjacent the air-entrance end of said duct permitting entrance of the fabric in collapsed condition but preventing air from within said duct from blowing back out said open end of the duct..-

18. A machine for continuous drying of tubular fabric comprising a housing having a duct open at one end for continuous entrance of tubular fabric, air-entrance means adjacent said end of said duct, means supplying hot dry rapidly moving air to said entrance means, supporting rneans within the fabric as it passes through the duct to prevent collapse of the fabric within the duct, spreading means within an enlarged portion of said housing and extending transverse to the path of said fabric through the duct and against which the fabric is pressed by the moving air, said spreading means having a surface resistant to the passage of air, there being openings in such surface between the periphery and center of the spreading means for passage of a limited amount of air to reduce the back pressure of air between the fabric and the spreading-means surface as the fabric moves over the surface of the spreading means, feeding means engaging the fabric after it passes said spreading means to draw the fabric continuously into and through the duct, and take-off means to draw the fabric out of the opposite end of the duct.

19. A drying machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein the spreading means comprises a disc, and the series of apertures are concentric with said disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 92,210 Richardson July 6, 1869 366,893 Simonds July 19, 1887 1,745,499 Marien Feb. 4, 1930 2,228,001 Cohn et al Jan. 7, 1941 2,586,800 Elvin et a1 Feb. 26, 1952 2,750,649 Johnson June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,662 Australia Feb. 20. 1947 505,177 Canada Aug. 17, 1954 

